His scent is soft English leather, rosewood and tonka with a hint of incense, parchment and soft woods.
The first BPAL I ever tried and it's still my favorite. I'm not very good at describing it, other than Mmmm. The blend of leather, wood, incense and tonka is perfect. It reminds me of when I was a kid at the library and would pull the old leather books off the shelves just to smell them. And dream about having a home with a classic library, full of old books and dark wood, with a fireplace, fancy globe and one of those giant unabridged dictionaries. Why yes, I am a librarian, why do you ask?
Also- sort of cool- my grandmother was called Dee, short for Devonah. And my mother's middle name is Dee. Nothing to do with the inspiration for the scent, I know, but it's a nice touch.
This scent is just so Me.
5/5
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Black Tower
white sandalwood, ambergris, wet ozone, galbanum and leather with ebony, teak, burnt grasses, English ivy and a hint of red wine.
So, something just smells bad when you combine this one with my skin chemistry. Most likely, I wasn't paying enough attention and burnt grasses = vetiver. It just doesn't work on me at all. Although, another possibility could be galbanum. I looked it up in one of my aromatherapy books, and part of its scent description lists "turpentine". Which could describe the scent I'm getting.
Anyhow, it's a bummer and overwhelms the entire blend. I was really hoping for a wine/leather/wood blend with some ozone shot through. This blend is really about the plants, though.
1/5
So, something just smells bad when you combine this one with my skin chemistry. Most likely, I wasn't paying enough attention and burnt grasses = vetiver. It just doesn't work on me at all. Although, another possibility could be galbanum. I looked it up in one of my aromatherapy books, and part of its scent description lists "turpentine". Which could describe the scent I'm getting.
Anyhow, it's a bummer and overwhelms the entire blend. I was really hoping for a wine/leather/wood blend with some ozone shot through. This blend is really about the plants, though.
1/5
Cheshire Cat
Grapefruit, red currant, dark musk, Roman chamomile, delphinium, and lavender.
Awesome frimp from the lab. I never would have tried it, and I love it!
I really don't care for citrus scents, since they either go candy sweet or turn into cleaner. This one however, is a really nice herbal citrus. I wouldn't be able to pick out the grapefruit note if I didn't know about it, since it's so much softer than what I'm used to. It just blends together really well. I'll have to look for more citrus scents like this.
4.5/5
Awesome frimp from the lab. I never would have tried it, and I love it!
I really don't care for citrus scents, since they either go candy sweet or turn into cleaner. This one however, is a really nice herbal citrus. I wouldn't be able to pick out the grapefruit note if I didn't know about it, since it's so much softer than what I'm used to. It just blends together really well. I'll have to look for more citrus scents like this.
4.5/5
Ave Maria Gratia Plena
Rosewood with Sicilian lemon peel, red Mysore sandalwood, pale musks, sweet mountain sage and a dusting of lily, night-blooming jasmine and orris.
Frimp from the lab! It was on my wishlist, too.
Unfortunately, it instantly turns to soap on my skin and stays that way. The only new note for me is orris, so I'll lay the blame on it for now.
Pretty short review.
2/5
Frimp from the lab! It was on my wishlist, too.
Unfortunately, it instantly turns to soap on my skin and stays that way. The only new note for me is orris, so I'll lay the blame on it for now.
Pretty short review.
2/5
Sunday, August 19, 2007
The Bow & Crown of Conquest
sage, carnation and cedar with lavender, vanilla, white musk and leather.
I really love this one, but I have a hard time separating the notes. Wet, I smell the leather and vanilla, which is nice. As it dries, the cedar and lavender get stronger. It all develops into a nice woodsy-vanilla smell. It is sort of masculine, but that never stops me.
Has average throw, lasts a little longer than average on me (6-7 hours).
If you like this one, try Dee.
5/5
I really love this one, but I have a hard time separating the notes. Wet, I smell the leather and vanilla, which is nice. As it dries, the cedar and lavender get stronger. It all develops into a nice woodsy-vanilla smell. It is sort of masculine, but that never stops me.
Has average throw, lasts a little longer than average on me (6-7 hours).
If you like this one, try Dee.
5/5
Asphodel
The grey and ghostly flower that fills the fields of Hades.
I received this one as a frimp from the lab.
It's pretty much all white flowers. So, if you love white florals, this one's for you. Since I avoid them at all costs, this one was a wash-off for me. Glad I got the chance to try it, though. The lab's changed my mind about other notes.
1/5
I received this one as a frimp from the lab.
It's pretty much all white flowers. So, if you love white florals, this one's for you. Since I avoid them at all costs, this one was a wash-off for me. Glad I got the chance to try it, though. The lab's changed my mind about other notes.
1/5
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Lust
red musk, patchouli, ylang ylang and myrrh.
As it dries, the red musk comes out more, which is even better. I can't specifically pick out the patchouli, but I never can. My skin seems to absorb it. The ylang ylang sweetens it up a bit, but it not even close to cloying or overly floral.
Overall, it's red musk blended with a sweet myrrh, and it lasts all day. This is definitely one of my favorites. Balanced, feminine and unique.
4.5/5
In the imp, I'm a little scared of it. Mostly, I smell the ylang ylang.
Once it hits my skin, though, the myrrh becomes prominent, which is great. I love myrrh!As it dries, the red musk comes out more, which is even better. I can't specifically pick out the patchouli, but I never can. My skin seems to absorb it. The ylang ylang sweetens it up a bit, but it not even close to cloying or overly floral.
Overall, it's red musk blended with a sweet myrrh, and it lasts all day. This is definitely one of my favorites. Balanced, feminine and unique.
4.5/5
Perversion
Smoky rum and black tobacco with a whisper of steamy leather with a splash of crystalline chardonnay, layered over a sensual, sweet, and deceptively magnetic base of tonka.
Wet, it smells really sweet and mostly like rum. As it dries, the rum lightens up and the tonka comes out more. Unfortunately, I can see what people mean about a stale smell. Once it's dried, it just smells a little off.
When I went back to look at the notes, I was surprised to see leather listed. I can't smell it at all. I'm not sure what seems stale on me. Maybe the chardonnay, or maybe the tobacco. It's still fairly pleasant. It ends up being a soft scent, and I do love the tonka. It has about average staying power. I'll give this one another try before I decide whether to keep the imp, but it's not going to be one of my favorites.
2.5/5
Wet, it smells really sweet and mostly like rum. As it dries, the rum lightens up and the tonka comes out more. Unfortunately, I can see what people mean about a stale smell. Once it's dried, it just smells a little off.
When I went back to look at the notes, I was surprised to see leather listed. I can't smell it at all. I'm not sure what seems stale on me. Maybe the chardonnay, or maybe the tobacco. It's still fairly pleasant. It ends up being a soft scent, and I do love the tonka. It has about average staying power. I'll give this one another try before I decide whether to keep the imp, but it's not going to be one of my favorites.
2.5/5
Friday, August 3, 2007
Bengal
skin musk with honey, peppers, clove, cinnamon bark and ginger.
This is such a great spicy scent!
Wet, it smells like it's all cinnamon. As it dries, the cinnamon stays and mellows. I can smell the cloves and ginger and the honey sweetens everything. Fortunately, the honey doesn't completely take over, though it does go a bit powdery. I've had that problem with honey a couple of times.
It it rather foody, esp. when I first apply it. It starts to lose that feel as the musk gets a bit stronger. I really like the way it keeps a soft cinnamon quality. Throw and staying power are average for me.
4.5/5
This is such a great spicy scent!
Wet, it smells like it's all cinnamon. As it dries, the cinnamon stays and mellows. I can smell the cloves and ginger and the honey sweetens everything. Fortunately, the honey doesn't completely take over, though it does go a bit powdery. I've had that problem with honey a couple of times.
It it rather foody, esp. when I first apply it. It starts to lose that feel as the musk gets a bit stronger. I really like the way it keeps a soft cinnamon quality. Throw and staying power are average for me.
4.5/5
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Bathsheba
carnation, sensual plum, and Arabian musk.
This is my favorite 'feminine' scent. I usually tend towards the colognes, but this is really lovely.
Wet, I'm afraid that the carnations are going to be too much. They quickly calm down, though, and begin to spice up the plum.
Once dry, it's a very pretty spicy plum and musk scent. It has slightly less than average staying power, but that happens with me and the lighter scents. It does start out with some decent throw, although it dries into more of a skin scent.
I'll probably end up with a bottle eventually. The plum and carnation combo is too good to pass up.
5/5
This is my favorite 'feminine' scent. I usually tend towards the colognes, but this is really lovely.
Wet, I'm afraid that the carnations are going to be too much. They quickly calm down, though, and begin to spice up the plum.
Once dry, it's a very pretty spicy plum and musk scent. It has slightly less than average staying power, but that happens with me and the lighter scents. It does start out with some decent throw, although it dries into more of a skin scent.
I'll probably end up with a bottle eventually. The plum and carnation combo is too good to pass up.
5/5
Coyote
The warmth of doeskin, dry plains grasses and soft, dusty woods warmed by amber and a downy, gentle coat of deep musk.
This was the first BPAL scent I tried, and it made a great impression!
At first, the amber is the dominant note and it does seem perfumey.
Before too long, though, the musk gets stronger and levels the scent out.
Once it dries, it's a sweetened musk and I think I can detect the dry grasses coming through. It's a soft and warm scent, very comforting.
Also, for a lighter scent, it lasts surprisingly long on me, about 6-7 hours.
This has remained one of my favorites.
4.5/5
This was the first BPAL scent I tried, and it made a great impression!
At first, the amber is the dominant note and it does seem perfumey.
Before too long, though, the musk gets stronger and levels the scent out.
Once it dries, it's a sweetened musk and I think I can detect the dry grasses coming through. It's a soft and warm scent, very comforting.
Also, for a lighter scent, it lasts surprisingly long on me, about 6-7 hours.
This has remained one of my favorites.
4.5/5
Carnaval Diabolique- Wishes
Bezoar
The Candy Butcher
Doc Constantine
Eshe, A Vision of Life in Death
The Illustrated Woman
Isaac, The Living Skeleton
Marianne
The Phantom Calliope
The Candy Butcher
Doc Constantine
Eshe, A Vision of Life in Death
The Illustrated Woman
Isaac, The Living Skeleton
Marianne
The Phantom Calliope
The Salon- Wishes
And There Was a Great Cry in Egypt
Carceri D'Invenzione
Cloister Graveyard in the Snow
Death of the Grave Digger
The Death of Sardanapal
Fox Fires on New Year's Eve at the Garment Nettle Tree at Oji
The Isle of the Dead
Itaso Kansei Nenkan Joro No Fuzoku
The Latern Ghost of Oiwa
Lot and His Daughters
Philosopher in Meditation
The Sailor's Den
Silence
Sunrise with Sea Monsters
Carceri D'Invenzione
Cloister Graveyard in the Snow
Death of the Grave Digger
The Death of Sardanapal
Fox Fires on New Year's Eve at the Garment Nettle Tree at Oji
The Isle of the Dead
Itaso Kansei Nenkan Joro No Fuzoku
The Latern Ghost of Oiwa
Lot and His Daughters
Philosopher in Meditation
The Sailor's Den
Silence
Sunrise with Sea Monsters
Excolo- Wishes
Aizen-Myoo
Anubis
Bastet
Gaueko
Hades
Hi-iaka
Kali
Lilith
Megaera
Nemesis
Ochosi
Odin
Oya
Shango
Skuld
Vechernyaya
Anubis
Bastet
Gaueko
Hades
Hi-iaka
Kali
Lilith
Megaera
Nemesis
Ochosi
Odin
Oya
Shango
Skuld
Vechernyaya
Rappaccini's Garden- Wishes
Baneberry
Dian's Bud
Love-Lies-Bleeding
Shadow Witch Orchid
Squirting Cucumber
Strangler Fig
Yew Trees
Dian's Bud
Love-Lies-Bleeding
Shadow Witch Orchid
Squirting Cucumber
Strangler Fig
Yew Trees
Wanderlust- Wishes
Athens
Baghdad
Cairo
Delphi
Florence
Glasgow
Havana
Kathmandu
Kyoto
Mag Mell
Manhattan
Manila
Pontarlier
Port Royal
Rome
Santo Domingo
Shanghai
Silk Road
Sri Lanka
Whitechapel
Windward Passage
Baghdad
Cairo
Delphi
Florence
Glasgow
Havana
Kathmandu
Kyoto
Mag Mell
Manhattan
Manila
Pontarlier
Port Royal
Rome
Santo Domingo
Shanghai
Silk Road
Sri Lanka
Whitechapel
Windward Passage
Illyria- Wishes
Antony
Caliban
Cordelia
Lady Macbeth
Lear
Lysander
Oberon
Othello
Regan
Rosalind
Titus Andronicus
Caliban
Cordelia
Lady Macbeth
Lear
Lysander
Oberon
Othello
Regan
Rosalind
Titus Andronicus
Ars Amatoria- Wishes
Bordello
Brisingamen
Carnal
Casanova
Desire
Endymion
Fascinum
Hetairae
Kabuki
La Petite Mort
Maiden
Nefertiti
Sed Non Satiata
Siren
Spellbound
To a Woman
Wanda
Wanton
Brisingamen
Carnal
Casanova
Desire
Endymion
Fascinum
Hetairae
Kabuki
La Petite Mort
Maiden
Nefertiti
Sed Non Satiata
Siren
Spellbound
To a Woman
Wanda
Wanton
Bewitching Brews- Wishes
Absinthe
Anne Bonny
Aureus
Burial
Calico Jack
Event Horizon
Intrigue
The Jersey Devil
Juke Joint
Lurid
Magus
Mary Read
Ouija
Ozymandias
Shattered
Sudha Segara
Twenty One
Velvet
Yggdrasil
Anne Bonny
Aureus
Burial
Calico Jack
Event Horizon
Intrigue
The Jersey Devil
Juke Joint
Lurid
Magus
Mary Read
Ouija
Ozymandias
Shattered
Sudha Segara
Twenty One
Velvet
Yggdrasil
Bad notes
Things that tend not to work:
vetiver, moss, pennyroyal, pomegranate, pumpkin, almond, lotus, butter, smoke/burnt anything, ozone, vanilla, caramel, aquatics, white florals, pure (or strong) florals, sweet/foody/sugary, dragon's blood, clove, blood, dirt, linen, orange blossom, peach, apricot, dust, paper, olive blossom
vetiver, moss, pennyroyal, pomegranate, pumpkin, almond, lotus, butter, smoke/burnt anything, ozone, vanilla, caramel, aquatics, white florals, pure (or strong) florals, sweet/foody/sugary, dragon's blood, clove, blood, dirt, linen, orange blossom, peach, apricot, dust, paper, olive blossom
Good notes
berries, but not strawberries
currant
woods
musks, esp. black/dark musk
juniper
amber
myrrh, frankincense with myrhh, galbanum, copal, labdanum
wine
honey, beeswax
mint
leather
patchouli
nutmeg
jasmine, carnation, cherry blossom, osmanthus
tea
lemon, not lemongrass
plum
ginger
cocoa
grape
roses and resins
incense
fig
currant
woods
musks, esp. black/dark musk
juniper
amber
myrrh, frankincense with myrhh, galbanum, copal, labdanum
wine
honey, beeswax
mint
leather
patchouli
nutmeg
jasmine, carnation, cherry blossom, osmanthus
tea
lemon, not lemongrass
plum
ginger
cocoa
grape
roses and resins
incense
fig
Imps to swap
GC
Asphodel
Ave Maria Gratia Plena
Azathoth
Black Lotus
Black Tower
Blood
Blood Kiss
Cathode
Cthulhu
Come to Me
Delight
De Sade
Djinn (x2)
Faustus
Hunger
Hymn to Prosperpine
Jack
King of Hearts
Machu Picchu
Mad Hatter
Madrid
Magdalene
Masabakes
Mouse's Long and Sad Tale (x2)
The Obsidian Widow
Osun
Perversion
Plunder
Queen of Sheba
Rage
Scherezade
Seraphim
Serpent's Kiss
Snake Oil (x2)
Tenochtitlan
Tombstone (x2)
Troll
Uruk (x2)
Vixen
LE
Clemence
The Clod and the Pebble
El Dia De Reyes 2007
The Forbidding Foyer
Gingerbread Poppet 2007
Krampus 2007
Luperci 2008
Priala
Pumpkin II 2007
Pumpin V 2007
Snow White 2007
Tabula Smaragdina
Valentine of Rome
Vampire Tears
Asphodel
Ave Maria Gratia Plena
Azathoth
Black Lotus
Black Tower
Blood
Blood Kiss
Cathode
Cthulhu
Come to Me
Delight
De Sade
Djinn (x2)
Faustus
Hunger
Hymn to Prosperpine
Jack
King of Hearts
Machu Picchu
Mad Hatter
Madrid
Magdalene
Masabakes
Mouse's Long and Sad Tale (x2)
The Obsidian Widow
Osun
Perversion
Plunder
Queen of Sheba
Rage
Scherezade
Seraphim
Serpent's Kiss
Snake Oil (x2)
Tenochtitlan
Tombstone (x2)
Troll
Uruk (x2)
Vixen
LE
Clemence
The Clod and the Pebble
El Dia De Reyes 2007
The Forbidding Foyer
Gingerbread Poppet 2007
Krampus 2007
Luperci 2008
Priala
Pumpkin II 2007
Pumpin V 2007
Snow White 2007
Tabula Smaragdina
Valentine of Rome
Vampire Tears
Top Ten
Blasphemare Reliquary
Tezcatlipoca
Alice
Himerus
The Bow & Crown of Conquest
Aeronwen
Tintagel
Bathsheba
Lust
Bengal
Tezcatlipoca
Alice
Himerus
The Bow & Crown of Conquest
Aeronwen
Tintagel
Bathsheba
Lust
Bengal
Already Tried
Aeaea
Aeronwen
Alice
Anne Bonny
Asphodel
Azathoth
Ave Maria Gratia Plena
Bathsheba
Bengal
Bewitched
Black Forest
Black Lotus
The Black Tower
The Blasphemare Reliquary
Blood
Blood Kiss
The Bow & Crown of Conquest
Cathedral
Cathode
Centzon Totochtin
Chesire Cat
Clemence
The Clod and the Pebble
Coyote
Cthulhu
Death Cap
Dee
Delight
De Sade
Dian's Bud
Djinn
Dorian
Dracul
Dragon's Musk
Eat Me
El Dia De Reyes
Embalming Fluid
Eternal
Faustus
Fenris Wolf
The Forbidding Foyer
Frumious Bandersnatch
Gingerbread Poppet
Golden Priapus
The Great Sword of War
Hamadryad
Hand of Glory
Harikata
Herbert West
Himerus
Hunter Moon
Hymn
Hymn to Proserpine
Inez
Imp
Jack
Jolly Roger
The King of Hearts
Kabuki
Krampus
Kuang Shi
Kubla Khan
Lady Macbeth
Lampades
Laudanum
Libertine
Loviatar
Luperci 2008
The Lurid Library
Lust
Machu Picchu
Mad Hatter
Madrid
Maenad
Magdalene
Mania
Masabakes
Midnight Kiss
Midwinter's Eve 2007
Miskatonic University
Morocco
The Mouse's Sad and Long Tail
Oblivion
The Obsidian Widow
Ogun
Old Scratch
Osun
Parlement of Foules 2008
Perversion
Peitho
Penny Dreadful
Plunder
Priala
Pumpkin II
Pumpkin V
Queen Mab
Queen of Sheba
Rage
Samhain 2007
Serpent's Kiss
Scherezade
Schwarzer Mond
Sed Non Satiata
Seraphim
Severin
The Shivering Boy
Shrunken Heads
Shub-Niggurath
Sin
Snake Oil
Snow White
The Spell of Amorous Love
Sundew
Tabula Smaragdina
Tenochtitlan
Tezcatlipoca
Tintagel
Tombstone
Tristran
Troll
Tweedledum
Undertow
Urd
Uruk
Valentine of Rome
Vampire Tears
Vixen
White Rabbit
Aeronwen
Alice
Anne Bonny
Asphodel
Azathoth
Ave Maria Gratia Plena
Bathsheba
Bengal
Bewitched
Black Forest
Black Lotus
The Black Tower
The Blasphemare Reliquary
Blood
Blood Kiss
The Bow & Crown of Conquest
Cathedral
Cathode
Centzon Totochtin
Chesire Cat
Clemence
The Clod and the Pebble
Coyote
Cthulhu
Death Cap
Dee
Delight
De Sade
Dian's Bud
Djinn
Dorian
Dracul
Dragon's Musk
Eat Me
El Dia De Reyes
Embalming Fluid
Eternal
Faustus
Fenris Wolf
The Forbidding Foyer
Frumious Bandersnatch
Gingerbread Poppet
Golden Priapus
The Great Sword of War
Hamadryad
Hand of Glory
Harikata
Herbert West
Himerus
Hunter Moon
Hymn
Hymn to Proserpine
Inez
Imp
Jack
Jolly Roger
The King of Hearts
Kabuki
Krampus
Kuang Shi
Kubla Khan
Lady Macbeth
Lampades
Laudanum
Libertine
Loviatar
Luperci 2008
The Lurid Library
Lust
Machu Picchu
Mad Hatter
Madrid
Maenad
Magdalene
Mania
Masabakes
Midnight Kiss
Midwinter's Eve 2007
Miskatonic University
Morocco
The Mouse's Sad and Long Tail
Oblivion
The Obsidian Widow
Ogun
Old Scratch
Osun
Parlement of Foules 2008
Perversion
Peitho
Penny Dreadful
Plunder
Priala
Pumpkin II
Pumpkin V
Queen Mab
Queen of Sheba
Rage
Samhain 2007
Serpent's Kiss
Scherezade
Schwarzer Mond
Sed Non Satiata
Seraphim
Severin
The Shivering Boy
Shrunken Heads
Shub-Niggurath
Sin
Snake Oil
Snow White
The Spell of Amorous Love
Sundew
Tabula Smaragdina
Tenochtitlan
Tezcatlipoca
Tintagel
Tombstone
Tristran
Troll
Tweedledum
Undertow
Urd
Uruk
Valentine of Rome
Vampire Tears
Vixen
White Rabbit
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